Photo: Courtesy of Temple University Athletics

The 2012 Ivy League/Big EAST Challenge kicked off on Friday evening with an action packed match between Villanova and Penn. The almost 600 fans in attendance were treated to 5 goals within a 15 minute window during the first half. The Quakers struck first with a goal from Mariano Gonzalez-Guerineau. Minutes later the Wildcats responded with goals from Aaron Dennis and Emerson Lawrence. Penn answered back in the 39th minute with a goal from Duke Lacroix. Senior Travis Cantrell scored on a PK in the 45th minute to secure a 3-2 lead for Penn at the half. Villanova’s offense turned up the heat in the second half with goals from Oscar Ulmar and Dylan Renya. Wildcat Emerson Lawrence also scored in the second half, sending him atop the Philly Soccer Six with 4 goals overall. The Wildcats left Rhodes Field on Friday night with a 5-3 win.

Villanova continued to battle the Ivy’s on Sunday afternoon, but fell to the Princeton Tigers 1-0 at the Villanova Soccer Complex.

Penn closed the weekend on the road against the Hoyas. Sophomore Duke Lacroix scored Penn’s lone goal of the match in the 39th minute. Georgetown senior Andy Riemer scored a hat-trick on Sunday afternoon with 2 assists coming from Council Rock North alum, Steve Neumann. The Quakers remain winless with the 3-1 loss at Georgetown’s North Kehoe Field.

On Friday night, La Salle visited the Lehigh Mountain Hawks who are celebrating their 100th season of men’s soccer. The Explorers defeated the winless Lehigh 2-0 at the Ulrich Sports Complex with 2 goals in the second half from Joe Farrell and Kameron Teel. Goalkeeper John McCarthy made 5 saves, earning his third shutout of the season while chalking up an assist on Farrell’s goal.

La Salle hosted Long Island on Saturday afternoon in their last non-conference home game of the season. An own-goal in the 10th minute put the Blackbirds on the board first. La Salle responded with 2 goals in the second half from Tom Baker and Kevin Pink. The Explorers finished the weekend with a 2-1 win over Long Island.

Saint Joseph’s celebrated their annual Alumni & Family Day on Saturday with a match at Finnesey Field against Rider University. The Hawks struck against the winless Broncs with goals from Alex Critzos and Tim Brennan in the opening minutes of the game. Critzos, a sophomore, scored a second goal in the 54th minute leading the Hawks to a 3-0 victory.

Drexel earned a 1-0 road win against Lafayette on Wednesday evening. The Dragons shutout the Leopards with a late goal from junior midfielder Nathan Page.

Temple earned their first win of the season against Manhattan last Tuesday afternoon at the Ambler Sports Complex. Owls striker Chas Wilson contributed 2 goals in the first half followed by a goal from freshman Dalton Andrusko in the 41st minute. The winless Jaspers responded with 2 goals, but fell to Temple 3-2.

The Owls then spent the weekend on the road in the Golden State. Their trip started on Friday night with a game against Cal Poly in front of 1250 fans at the Alex G. Spanos Stadium. Owls forward Chas Wilson scored in the 26th minute off an assist from Jared Martinelli, but their effort was not enough to stave off the Mustangs who booked the 4-1 win. Temple continued the road trip on Sunday night, traveling down the coast to Cal State, Northridge.  The Matadors lead the entire game, allowing only one goal in the 89th minute from Jared Martinelli. Cal State won the match with a final score of 2-1.